Originally published in Library Journal, March 1, 2020. When his mother is sent to prison for stabbing his abusive father, Michael, 11, is sent to live with his aunt DeeDee. The next-door-neighbor, Bunny Lampert, is the rich princess of North Shore, having lost her mother in a car accident and her father is an alcoholic… Continue reading The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe
Tag: California
What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel
Originally published in School Library Journal, December 2019. Gr 9 & Up - Mike Parker's girlfriend of 6 months goes to the principal with a secret - Mike hit her, causing California's North Bay Academy to take sides on who they believe. A junior and track star, everyone loves golden boy Mike, but the incident… Continue reading What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
The Masterpiece is contemporary Christian fiction at its best. Having read and loved Redeeming Love, one of Rivers's previous novels, I had an inkling that I would enjoy her newest work, fittingly titled The Masterpiece. Many times Christian fiction can become a little too squeaky clean, which distracts from an exciting or enticing story line and pace. Being… Continue reading The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
What Light by Jay Asher
What Light will be published on October 18, 2016 by Razorbill (a Penguin imprint). Though meant for the young adult audience, adults would really enjoy this story as well. With respect to many YA books, the language and romance are very tame. What Light was like a breath of fresh air, compared to some of the… Continue reading What Light by Jay Asher
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
This story alternates between 1919 San Francisco and 1960's Napa, California. In 1919, Vivien Lowe, an obituary writer, is holding on to a dream that her long lost love, David, is still alive somewhere. David has been missing since the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, when it ripped Vivien's home and entire world apart. Vivien… Continue reading The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood